Psychosomatic Counselling in Obstetrics & Gynaecology

It's all in your head... Heard it before?

Among all specialities women's health (Obstetrics & Gynaecology) deals the most with difficult cases, where patients have symptoms (such as pain) but conventional medicine does not provide an answer to what the cause is. Sometimes the cause is known, but the treatment is limited, for example to painkillers. This is a case of chronic pelvic pain in women, where 60% of patients will never know the reason for their pain (more info). Counselling and hypnosis were shown to improve coping with the pain and readjusting the life around the condition, but they can also improve the pain itself! After all the investigation it may seem sometimes that psychotherapy is the next thing to try. Then try it! It is all within you.

How does it work?

Your mood and general satisfaction in life affects your immunity system and hormonal system, which in effect influences your healing proceses. It is known that depressed patients with cancer are 2.6 times more likely to die than cancer patients who are not depressed. So if you work with your mind and emotions, you can contribute to balancing your immunity and hormonal system, which enhances your healing.

What conditions may have a psychological component, which can be addressed by counselling?

1. Pelvic pain

2. Pain during intercourse

3. Problems with fertility

4. Premenstrual syndrome

5. Miscarriages

Note: The improvement of physical symptoms is an indirect effect of the counselling and therefore cannot be guaranteed. It has been well documented in research that it improves chances of healing.